Matching donors will DOUBLE your impact and help kids

“I make thumbs,” says Dr. Susan Thompson. “and it makes such a difference in kids’ lives.”

Dr. Thompson is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hands at HSC Children’s Hospital in Manitoba. One surgery she specializes in is pollicization – one of the most difficult, intricate surgeries in the field.

“It is like the Cadillac of hand surgeries.”

Pollicization is performed when a child is born with no thumb or congenital underdevelopment causing partial or complete absence of the radius bone and no structure to the thumb area. Not having a thumb can be detrimental to development and general function throughout life. Thumbs are important for  communication and play as a child, and to do job functions as an adult.

The surgery involves creating a functional thumb by transferring another finger (usually the index) to the thumb position. Intricate incisions of skin, careful dissection of veins and nerves, and readjustment of the bones to shorten and rotate an index finger into the same plane of movement that a thumb would function are all part of the procedure …and all of this on a tiny hand.

“Ideally the surgery is done before a child reaches age four, so their brain can adapt to recognize the index finger as the thumb,” says Thompson.

That’s why specialized equipment needed for surgeries like this is so important at Children’s Hospital.

“Using outdated tools in any surgery means that outcomes suffer. When donors come forward to give to improve operating circumstances for surgeons – that is wonderful for the surgeons and for the kids.”

Donors supporting the purchase of equipment as well as surgical research is fundamental to improved outcomes for kids. New lighting, instruments, implants and more, all designed with a purpose to make surgeries safer and more effective are available thanks to research. Research can also look at health pathway improvements, changes to post-operative pain control and much more.

“We don’t want to be treating kids the way we treated them 50 years ago. Funding research is just as important as funding tools,” says Thompson.

Dr. Cheryl Rockman-Greenberg, Distinguished Professor and clinician scientist in the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba and at the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM) agrees. Greenberg was part of a pioneering clinical research trial in 2010 that ultimately changed a rare disorder called Hypophosphatasia (causing abnormal mineralization of bones and teeth) from a life-threatening or life-altering condition into a treatable condition.

“Research is not just about scientific curiosities – research changes people’s lives,” says Greenberg. “Every single advancement in medicine has started from research – from drug discovery such as insulin, to new surgical techniques to new diagnostic tools and more… research is the foundation leading to improved clinical care for patients.”

As an example, advancements in surgical instruments designed for children ensure these tools come in different shapes, sizes, and structure to help maneuver smaller nerves and bones and adjust to the growth happening in a child.

“It’s things like a specific tool that reduces the chance of damaging the growth plates at the end of a child’s developing bone,” says Dr. Thompson.

Thompson says she and other surgeons at HSC Children’s Hospital are thankful for donors who support the specialized care needed for infants, children, and teens. Donors like Heather and Bob Williams who heard of a need and have now become matching donors to help get more supporters involved.

“We understand there are critical needs for replacing outdated tools in Manitoba’s only Children’s Hospital, so we want to help and get the community involved also,” says Bob Williams.

Tools like a new orthopedic fracture table that is more than 19 years old and falling apart but is critical to surgeons trying to put traction on a muscle as they repair a traumatic bone break in a child’s femur. Or a new microscope that offers better optics, recording capabilities and visualization modes during intricate procedures of the eye.

The Williamses are dedicating up to $400,000 as a matching donation to all public donations towards these surgical needs over the next few months.

“We believe the community can help ensure kids have the best care – and we are putting our donation behind this goal,” says Bob. “Now you have to opportunity with your donation, which will be matched, to help very talented surgeons help kids in miraculous ways.”

To have your donation matched, please donate now.